“GLP-1” has become shorthand for a family of prescription medications that act on appetite and blood sugar. They go by different brand names, come as injections or pills, and are approved for different conditions. Here’s the plain-English map.
How GLP-1 medications work
GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) is a hormone your gut releases after eating. The medications mimic it: they help the pancreas release insulin when blood sugar rises, slow how fast the stomach empties, and act on appetite centers in the brain so you feel full sooner and think about food less. Tirzepatide also acts on a second hormone receptor, GIP, which is part of why its results differ. Many people describe the effect on constant food thoughts as quieting “food noise.”
Drug profiles
Semaglutide — Wegovy, Ozempic, Rybelsus
Wegovy is approved for chronic weight management and to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events in adults with heart disease and overweight or obesity — based on the SELECT trial, which found a 20% reduction in heart attack, stroke and cardiovascular death (NEJM, 2023). It is also approved to treat MASH, an inflammatory form of fatty liver disease, in adults with moderate-to-advanced liver scarring (Wegovy PI). It’s available as a weekly injection and as a daily tablet. Ozempic (weekly injection) and Rybelsus (daily tablet) are approved for type 2 diabetes. See Ozempic vs. Wegovy and Wegovy pill vs. injection.
Tirzepatide — Zepbound, Mounjaro
Zepbound is approved for chronic weight management and for moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity. Mounjaro is approved for type 2 diabetes. Both are weekly injections; Zepbound is also sold as a multi-dose KwikPen. Compare it in tirzepatide vs. semaglutide.
Orforglipron — Foundayo
Foundayo is Eli Lilly’s daily GLP-1 pill for weight management, approved by the FDA on April 1, 2026 (Eli Lilly). Unlike oral semaglutide, it is a small-molecule drug.
Safety information everyone should know
- Most common side effects are gastrointestinal — nausea, diarrhea, vomiting and constipation — usually worst while doses are being increased. Our side effects hub covers what helps.
- Boxed warning: semaglutide and tirzepatide carry a warning about thyroid C-cell tumors seen in rodents. They are not for people with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN 2.
- Other warnings in the prescribing information include pancreatitis, gallbladder problems, low blood sugar when combined with insulin or sulfonylureas, and kidney problems from dehydration.
Read the full prescribing information for your medication (Wegovy, Zepbound) and ask your prescriber about anything that applies to you. We never give dosing advice — dose changes are between you and your prescriber.
Paying for them
Self-pay prices now start around $149 a month for pills and $199–$349 for injections, and eligible Medicare enrollees can pay $50. Details: Cost & Access and the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge guide.
Sources
- Lincoff AM, et al. Semaglutide and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Obesity without Diabetes (SELECT). NEJM, 2023.
- Novo Nordisk — Wegovy Prescribing Information
- Eli Lilly — Zepbound Prescribing Information; Foundayo approval (April 1, 2026)
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Medical disclaimer: Content on OnSemaglutide.com is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Talk with a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping or changing any medication. Read the full disclaimer.